How“ Moana'”s Auli'i Cravalho Is Teaching Fans About Reef Conservation: 'Coral Is a Foundational Species' (Exclusive)

Cravalho has partnered with SHEBA and Kuleana Coral Reefs for a short-film series amid Coral Reef Awareness Week, and chats to PEOPLE about the initiative

Auli'i Cravalho is speaking out about an important cause that, quite literally, hits home.

The Moana voice actress, 23, has teamed up with SHEBA for a short-film series titled "Growing Hope in Hawai'i," all about coral-reef restoration, in honor of Coral Reef Awareness Week.

In conjunction with SHEBA brand partner Kuleana Coral Reefs, Cravalho will take viewers on a journey within her home state to "highlight how important coral reefs are to the Hawaiian culture and how working to preserve them represents a vital step towards ensuring our oceans have more fish for the future," according to a release.

Speaking with PEOPLE about the initiative and her passion for the cause, Cravalho says, "Coral is a foundational species. It is something that helps all ecosystems, helps fish, helps crabs, then into the larger marine life as well."

She praises nonprofit Kuleana Coral Reefs, "These are people who took it upon themselves after noticing there are less fish than when they were growing up, and [are exploring], 'How can we find a solution to that?' "

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The series will include three videos featuring Cravalho, the first of which introduces viewers to the "wonderful" Kuleana Coral Reefs team, made up of "local fisherman, ocean advocates, firemen, surfers" and more.

"The second video is going into the water," continues the Mean Girls actress. "You get to see what a reef star is. We get to see healthy coral. We get to see unhealthy coral — coral of opportunity that we can potentially regrow."

And while she admits she always considered activities like scuba diving and snorkeling "a bit of a tourist activity," Cravalho has "done a full 180" after considering what it does for reef awareness.

"First of all, it's super cool. Secondly, it's also a great way to become invigorated and learn about what's going on in the ocean floor," she tells PEOPLE.

Related: Scientists 'Surprised and Elated' to Find Massive Coral Reef Taller Than Empire State Building

The third video takes audiences into Cravalho's home, where they will be able to "download with" the actress and meet her cat, Rocco.

Of SHEBA, the self-professed "proud cat mom" says that she hopes to one day visit the brand's Indonesia-based Hope Reef, Salisi’ Besar, which boasts letters spelling out the word "HOPE."

"I truly think that the brand having its own personal cord of sustainability and responsibility is so wonderful," Cravalho says. "As a pet parent, that makes all the difference when I think of choosing products that also back, not only to my community, but to the rest of the world."

"When did you ever see a box that says, 'Committed to coral restoration in Hawaii?' " she adds. "Put it on the shelves. I love it."

All three episodes of Cravalho's "Growing Hope in Hawai'i" short-film series will be shared on SHEBA's official Instagram and SHEBA.com, with the first episode dropping Monday, July 15.

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